www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

您現在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Normal Speed News  
   
 





 
Increased biofuel production could harm water resources
[ 2009-06-24 14:00 ]

Download

A new study by researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas warns that expanded production of crops to produce biofuels could damage water resources. The researchers suggest policy makers take into account what they call the "water footprint" when encouraging biofuel development.

The study is titled The Water Footprint of Biofuels: A Drink or Drive Issue? The suggestion is that by using too much water to produce fuel, humankind might leave itself with not enough water to drink or to grow food.

The lead author of the study, Rice University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Pedro Alvarez spoke to VOA by telephone from France, where he is attending an academic meeting. He says the water footprint consists of two elements. "Water shortages caused by a significant increase in fuel crop irrigation, and increased water pollution from related agro-chemical drainage and increased erosion and so on. The two impacts we refer to as the 'water footprint,'" he said.

Alvarez says there are good reasons to continue programs to produce biofuels, such as reducing the need for imported oil and diversifying our sources of energy. But he says policy makers should provide incentives to producers to use crops that use less water and have less impact on the environment in the form of runoff of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals.

Increased biofuel production could harm water resources

"We want to try to use crops that deliver more energy with lower requirements for not just water, but also land and agro-chemicals. These are usually non-edible cellulosic crops," he said.

The Rice University study also suggests that using corn to produce the alcohol fuel ethanol may not always be cost effective, especially in states where farmers have to use large amounts of fertilizer to produce the grain.

But Kristen Brekke of the American Coalition for Ethanol in Sioux Falls, South Dakota says the study does not take into account the growing yields farmers are producing by using technology and improved agricultural practices.

"They are getting a lot more efficient; they have a lot better crop genetics and agronomic practices like no-till farming and things like GPS [satellite-dependent global positioning system]. That sort of technology allows them to put only the amount of fertilizer that is needed on a field and in the exact location that it is needed. USDA [the U.S. Department of Agriculture], for example, says that corn yields are expected to double in the next 25 years," she said.

But Brekke agrees with the Rice University study in that using corn for ethanol may not work well everywhere and that development of cellulosic ethanol from waste products and other plants makes sense. "The nice thing about cellulosic ethanol is that all areas of the country will be able to participate in that. Where it makes sense to grow corn, some of that corn is going to ethanol production, but in other areas of the country they will be able to use what they have locally available," she said.

The ethanol industry backs the use of the alcohol additive to gasoline as way of reducing petroleum consumption nationwide.

But Pedro Alvarez argues that it might be better for the environment as well as farmers to use the alternative fuel locally and not try to transport it long distances. He says that the growing world population might force policy changes not only in terms of water used for fuel crops, but also in terms of how water is used to produce the food we eat.

"To make one kilogram of bread, let's say, you need 1,000 liters of water and to make one kilogram of meat you need 10,000 liters of water. The point here is that water is going to be a severe limiting factor - not only to economic development, but just to feed a growing population," he said.

Alvarez says population growth will drive the need to allocate water carefully for various food crops as well as livestock. Likewise, he says, it will be necessary to balance the goals of reducing oil consumption and supporting the income of farmers with the need to preserve the water that makes agriculture possible.

non-edible: 不可食用的

Related stories:

世界環境日

Law to protect islands' ecology

Officials shun cars to save energy

(Source: VOA 英語點津編輯)

英語點津版權說明:凡注明來源為“英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創作品,除與中國日報網簽署英語點津內容授權協議的網站外,其他任何網站或單位未經允許不得非法盜鏈、轉載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯系;凡本網注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉載,請與稿件來源方聯系,如產生任何問題與本網無關;本網所發布的歌曲、電影片段,版權歸原作者所有,僅供學習與研究,如果侵權,請提供版權證明,以便盡快刪除。
相關文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本頻道最新推薦
 
Tarzan Arrives In Paris 泰山抵達巴黎
Scientists breeding cows that burp less
聯想詞搜索 associative-word search
東京強制修建屋頂花園 城市叢林變身綠色港灣
手機幻聽 ringxiety
翻吧推薦
 
論壇熱貼
 
原來國家的名字如此浪漫
許巍《難忘的一天》- 英譯
人格分裂如何翻譯
工齡的英文怎么說?
看Marley & Me 學英語

 

主站蜘蛛池模板: 欧美一级毛片高清视频 | 欧美激情久久久久久久久 | 久久久精品久久视频只有精品 | 三级大片网站 | 国产精品福利午夜h视频 | 在线高清一级欧美精品 | 久久www免费人成_看片高清 | 亚洲国产成人久久综合一区 | 一级片一区 | 王朝影院一区二区三区入口 | 国产杨幂福利在线视频观看 | 久久成人国产精品 | 日韩黄色一级毛片 | 国产免费午夜a无码v视频 | 经典国产乱子伦精品视频 | 成人在线中文字幕 | 欧美高清视频在线观看 | 国产成人无精品久久久久国语 | 欧美一区二区三区视频 | 亚洲成人免费在线观看 | 精品亚洲一区二区 | 亚欧在线观看 | 欧美成人精品久久精品 | 国产精品一区二区在线观看 | 手机看片在线播放 | 怡红院美国十次成人影院 | 亚洲精品午夜久久久伊人 | 国产精品久久久久久久久免费观看 | 性生活免费视频网站 | 美女mm131爽爽爽免费视色 | 久在草视频 | 国产午夜精品理论片影院 | 日本加勒比在线视频 | 欧美日韩免费一区二区在线观看 | 久久久久99精品成人片三人毛片 | 一区二区三区欧美日韩国产 | 中文字幕二区三区 | 免费观看性欧美大片无片 | 最近中文在线中文 | 97青娱国产盛宴精品视频 | 国产日产欧美精品一区二区三区 |